Same-sex marriage bill passes N.H. Senate

(CNN) - New Hampshire's Senate has approved a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry, but critics and fans of the bill say their work isn't over.

Kevin Smith, executive director of the conservative Cornerstone Policy Research Action group, said the group expects Gov. John Lynch to "stand by his word" and veto the bill.

On the other side, Mo Baxley, the executive director of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, noted that the bill is returning to the House for it to consider changes made by the Senate, and added, "I think the work continues."

On Wednesday, the state Senate voted 13 to 11 in favor of the bill, which differs from the House-approved version in that it distinguishes between civil and religious marriage. It allows each religion to decide whether to acknowledge same-sex marriage, but extends the option of civil marriage to any two individuals, said state Senate spokeswoman Anne Saunders.